Dreasjon Reed shot and killed by Indianapolis police: What we know about the shooting

On the evening of May 6, 21-year-old Dreasjon "Sean" Reed was shot and killed by an Indianapolis police officer on the northwest side of the city following a pursuit captured in part on Facebook Live.

Since then there have been multiple protests in Reed's honor, one officer heard making a joke about Reed's body has been disciplined, and new video captured by witnesses at the scene raise new questions about how IMPD handled the situation. Reed's family has also filed a federal lawsuit against the city and IMPD.

Here's what we know about the shooting and the aftermath:

What do police say happened?

According to IMPD, the incident started on I-65 near 30th Street around 6 p.m. when IMPD Deputy Chief Kendale Adams saw a gray Toyota Corolla operated by Reed driving recklessly.

Police said Reed's vehicle had almost struck other vehicles while it exited the interstate.

Adams initiated a pursuit. Chief Randal Taylor, in another car behind Adams, aided.

Other officers joined the pursuit as Adams and Taylor dropped off, but by 6:10 p.m. an IMPD sergeant ordered that those other officers stop because of how fast the suspect was driving.

An officer then saw Reed driving eastbound on 62nd Street before parking at a business. Both the officer and Reed left their cars, and a foot pursuit began.

Police said there was a confrontation between the two near the intersection of West 62nd Street and Michigan Road that involved an exchange of gunfire, and the officer called in the shooting at 6:16 p.m. Police said the officer used his service weapon after a Taser deployment was "ineffective."

Fifteen casings were recovered at the scene. Police believe a weapon found at the scene belonged to Reed.

The Facebook Live video

In the video, a shirtless Reed is recording himself as he drives.

"You gotta look," he says, as he positions his camera phone to show what's behind the moving car. It appears to be a police car that's tailing him. "It's just one right now," he says to the camera.

After telling viewers that he thinks the officer is gone, Reed is trying to figure out where he has driven.

"What street is this? I'm going to park this (expletive) and get the (expletive) out," he says. "At 62nd and Michigan, somebody come get my stupid (expletive)!"

He goes on: "Please come get me. Please come get me!"

He then appears to park the car and leaves his vehicle. The video, at this point, is unclear. But within 18 seconds, Reed is responding to another voice. He asks: "What'd you say?"

About 11 seconds go by when there is more inaudible shouting.

Then two pops can be heard. Reed appears to either drop his phone or collapse or both. Then, as the camera points up toward the sky, the sounds of more than a dozen other pops ring out.

By then, more than 4,000 people had tuned in to watch the Facebook Live video.

The audio appears to interrupt for a few moments. But when it returns, a voice repeats the phrase "Oh my god," while an orchestra of police sirens grow louder in the background.

'Closed casket, homie'

Another recording of the Facebook Live appears to show the aftermath. The camera is still pointing to the sky, with more than 16,000 people watching.

A detective, who IMPD later identified as Officer Steven Scott, was recorded saying of Reed’s body: “I think it’s going to be closed casket, homie” — referring to a closed casket funeral for Reed.

IMPD Chief Randal Taylor called the comments "inappropriate" in the wake of the shooting, stating that the officer would be disciplined.

"Let me be clear," Taylor said. "These comments are unacceptable and unbecoming of our police department."

Taylor did not provide specific details about the disciplinary action for the detective. Nor did he elaborate on which units the officer worked for. He would only say the man received a suspension of numerous days and has been reassigned to another unit.

IMPD later identified Officer Dejoure Mercer as the officer who shot Reed. Police officials initially said they were withholding the names due to safety concerns. Taylor said detectives were investigating at least 26 threats made against officers following the fatal shooting of Reed, as well as the fatal police shooting 19-year-old McHale Rose on May 7.

Eyewitness video raises new questions

An eyewitness video obtained by attorneys representing Reed purports that Reed was Tased and then shot in the back after running from officers.

The video, which does not show footage of Reed or the police, is of three women describing the events they say they witnessed on May 6. “We saw it from the beginning to end,” one says. “We seen the whole thing,” another woman says.

A spokesperson for the Reed family attorney said the newly revealed video disproves the police department's assertions that Reed fired at officers.

“It’s a blatant cover-up of an unjust murder in broad daylight," said Elayne Rivers, a spokesperson for The Law Firm of Fatima Johnson, which represents Reed's family. “We have sufficient evidence that shows that the murder was completely unnecessary.”

Hackney: New video raises questions about IMPD actions in Dreasjon Reed shooting

In a statement, IMPD Deputy Chief of Investigations Craig McCartt said the department repeatedly asked that any members of the community who may have witnessed the incident or who may know of additional video share that information with investigators.

"To this point, no one has come forward with such information. And as recently as last week, IMPD investigators were in contact with attorneys for the Reed family and were not made aware of such witnesses or evidence," he said in a statement.

Family files lawsuit against city, IMPD

On what would have been Reed's 22nd birthday, attorneys representing his family announced a lawsuit against the City of Indianapolis, the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department and four members of the department.

"We believe, with this lawsuit, we'll have access to the information they (the police) have so far," representatives for the family said June 16. In addition to the protection of evidence, the family said it was seeking federal oversight into the investigation.

Police Chief Taylor, Deputy Chief Adams, Officer Mercer and Officer Scott were also included in the lawsuit.

It claims the department failed to properly train, supervise and discipline Mercer, who fired the fatal shots, and others involved in the string of events that led to Reed’s death.

“The IMPD’s and the City of Indianapolis’s failure to implement the necessary policies and adequately supervise and discipline Officer Mercer and Officer Steven Scott (Officer Scott) and the implementation of unconstitutional policies caused Reed’s unwarranted and excruciating physical and mental anguish and death,” attorney Swaray Edward Conteh wrote in the suit.

What was the reaction to the shooting?

Several community activists and neighborhood organizers were immediately sharing messages of outrage at what the the video showed. More than 100 people, meanwhile, gathered at the scene, many chanting, "No justice, no peace."

About 200 people gathered downtown the next morning in protest of the fatal shooting, and continued to protest that evening near the scene of the shooting.

It was at 62nd and Michigan that Reed's father, Jamie Reed, came face-to-face with the chief of police.

In an emotional, public conversation, Jamie Reed asked Taylor why his officers killed his son.

"Ya'll be murdering us black people for years," he said. "What's going on? What's the investigation? What's going on?"

Jamie Reed criticized the fact that IMPD doesn't outfit its officers with dash or body cameras. His questions were immediately followed by cries from Jazmine Reed, Dreasjon's older sister.

"They Tased him and shot my little brother," she screamed as her father held her up. "They shot my little brother dead after he was already down.

"They took him from us."

Taylor kept his composure while flanked by protestors. Speaking into a microphone, he promised the family that the investigation would be open and impartial.

"I can't be here to debate the case," Taylor said. "There's no way I can do that. The only thing I can do is assure this family is that an investigation is ongoing."

Protest organizers have expressed anger over the shooting, noting that it occurred in "broad daylight" and demanded transparency from the IMPD.

They also reminded those gathered to remember Reed for the life he lived, and not how he died.

Reed has been the focus of multiple protests since then, including the explosive and volatile protests that have rocked Indianapolis daily since May 29 and resulted in the city being placed under curfew.

IndyStar reporters Ethan May, Crystal Hill, Ryan Martin and Dwight Adams contributed to this story.

Call IndyStar reporter Justin L. Mack at 317-444-6138. Follow him on Twitter: @justinlmack.